UFC on ESPN 17 is now down to 10 bouts after a positive
COVID-19 test “involving” Ian
Heinisch ahead of his middleweight showdown with Brendan
Allen.
As a result, the contest has been canceled, and a featherweight
clash between Giga
Chikadze and James
Krause-Simmons has been promoted to the main card. The Las
Vegas-based promotion announced the news in a statement on
Saturday.
UFC on ESPN 17 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is
headlined by a light heavyweight tilt pitting Thiago
Santos against Glover
Teixeira. The main cad airs on ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 10
p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while prelims stream on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m.
ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
Heinisch and Allen were previously slated to meet at UFC on ESPN 12
on June 27 before Heinisch withdrew from the bout due to injury.
The 32-year-old Heinisch snapped a two-fight skid with a
first-round stoppage of Gerald
Meerschaert in his most recent outing at UFC 250 on June 6.
Allen has kicked off his promotional tenure with three straight
triumphs, including a three-round verdict over replacement foe Kyle
Daukus at UFC on ESPN 12.